Nearly two-thirds of Scots firms fear looming skills shortage

Pearson UK and CBI survey finds 59% of companies worry candidates for jobs won't meet their skill requirements while three-quarters believe need for 'high-level skills' will increase in next three to five years

A survey of 120 Scottish companies found almost two-thirds have concerns about recruiting sufficiently skilled staff in the coming three-to-five years.

The Scottish results, part of a wider UK survey by Pearson UK and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), found 59 per cent of firms north of the border had concerns candidates will not meet their requirements.

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Just over three quarters of Scottish businesses surveyed forecast their need for “high-level skills”- including qualifications, employability skills and industry knowledge – will increase in the next three to five years.

At present, most of the firms in Scotland surveyed were positive about graduate applicants' basic skills and general readiness for employment, however 42 per cent said they were not satisfied with graduate hires' business and customer awareness and 33 per cent raised concerns about attitudes, behaviours and resilience in the workplace.

The survey found 28 per cent of Scottish employers were also dissatisfied with the amount of practical work experience graduate recruits had attained prior to joining them.

The majority of firms said the quality of careers advice given to young people was not good enough, and 82 per cent said they would be prepared to play a greater role in supporting schools and colleges in improving careers services.

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“However, the fact that businesses fear that there will be a lack of sufficiently skilled people to fill these roles, should be a wake-up call for universities and higher education organisations.

“There is clearly potential for the higher education sector and businesses to work more closely together and deliver degrees that are designed and delivered in partnership with the world of work in mind.”